entry level custom vs trued 700

[Spike A]

So i would like to start off by saying i don't want this to turn into a debate about custom vs a trued action... how ever that being said i am nervous about the lower priced customs and weather they are worth the extra money over a tured 700.. Let me back up a hair to the beginning that is leading me down this road..

I have a r700 in 22-250, lapped lugs, jewel trigger, aluminum bedding block stock... the current barrel is a factory 700 with a 1-14 twist... its not a bad/ inaccurate rifle.. however my plan from point of purchase was to rebarrel it into a heavy twist 22-250AI to shoot 75-85 grns....

This is where the story really begins... my first initial plan was to go ahead and do a remage barrel. than i started talking to a few fellow shooters.. and said well if you want it to last more than 1000 rds you should seriously consider a cut rifled barrel, it "should" last 30-40% longer... ok .. well there isntt alot of options to cut rifled remage barrel.. so down im looking at getting it cut and shouldered and installed, ok fine ... But than i talked to a few shooting buddies again... and we were talking about barrel life... and they said well you have been wanting a 6mm (the 6xc to be exact) for a long time... why not just rebarrel it to that, you could shoot your 75gr bullets for varmint hunting, but throw some heavies at it for lr shooting ( i end up doing about 50/50 with most of my rifles..) and in the end you will have at least double the barrel life. I say ok.. that is actually a fairly smart move i wont lie... so i start chasing that rabbit...

This is where I start going a little crazy... So if i want to build a nice lr shooting Gun off of this factory action... i know i would be best to either screw on a barrel... or get it trued first if i really want to squeeze the accuracy out of it ( which of course i do).. well geez if im to get it trued... by the time i do that i could sell this rifle and put that money towards what i would call an entry level custom, which is r700 foot print so i could reuse my stock/trigger which alone saves a boat load up front. So i started reading of course about the lower end customs... and i see many people stating they aren't much better than a trued 700...

So FINALLY the question... is a entry level custom really worth the 3-400 extra over the trued 700? I am a little taken aback by the back and forth that is out there so i wanted a few opinions from some of you more experienced fellows out there and your take on the situation..... any advice besides bashing one side or the other would be greatly appreciated...

Spike

 

[hogpatrol]

Been said many times, no matter how much money you put in a Remington, it'll still be a Remington.

 

[Boisblancboy]

I’ve been shooting a trued Remington for a few years now and keeping up with senior talent in my area. That statement above “doesn’t matter how much money you put into a Remington, it’s still a Remington” is true, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less accurate. I shoot a Remington because it took me a long time to get my gun built, upgraded as I could afford it, but it was also fun to do them plus a learning curve.

Its really funny when My scores are very high and I get people walking over asking about my gun, till they find out it’s a Remington, the questions generally stop.

Bottom line my opinion is shoot what you can afford and stop thinking about it.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Both actions will get the job done. If you can swing the custom you will never regret it, and it will install a greater appreciation of your new build.

 

[hoz53]

So i would like to start off by saying i don't want this to turn into a debate about custom vs a trued action... how ever that being said i am nervous about the lower priced customs and weather they are worth the extra money over a tured 700.. Let me back up a hair to the beginning that is leading me down this road..

I have a r700 in 22-250, lapped lugs, jewel trigger, aluminum bedding block stock... the current barrel is a factory 700 with a 1-14 twist... its not a bad/ inaccurate rifle.. however my plan from point of purchase was to rebarrel it into a heavy twist 22-250AI to shoot 75-85 grns....

This is where the story really begins... my first initial plan was to go ahead and do a remage barrel. than i started talking to a few fellow shooters.. and said well if you want it to last more than 1000 rds you should seriously consider a cut rifled barrel, it "should" last 30-40% longer... ok .. well there isntt alot of options to cut rifled remage barrel.. so down im looking at getting it cut and shouldered and installed, ok fine ... But than i talked to a few shooting buddies again... and we were talking about barrel life... and they said well you have been wanting a 6mm (the 6xc to be exact) for a long time... why not just rebarrel it to that, you could shoot your 75gr bullets for varmint hunting, but throw some heavies at it for lr shooting ( i end up doing about 50/50 with most of my rifles..) and in the end you will have at least double the barrel life. I say ok.. that is actually a fairly smart move i wont lie... so i start chasing that rabbit...

This is where I start going a little crazy... So if i want to build a nice lr shooting Gun off of this factory action... i know i would be best to either screw on a barrel... or get it trued first if i really want to squeeze the accuracy out of it ( which of course i do).. well geez if im to get it trued... by the time i do that i could sell this rifle and put that money towards what i would call an entry level custom, which is r700 foot print so i could reuse my stock/trigger which alone saves a boat load up front. So i started reading of course about the lower end customs... and i see many people stating they aren't much better than a trued 700...

So FINALLY the question... is a entry level custom really worth the 3-400 extra over the trued 700? I am a little taken aback by the back and forth that is out there so i wanted a few opinions from some of you more experienced fellows out there and your take on the situation..... any advice besides bashing one side or the other would be greatly appreciated...

Spike

the bottom line no BS consensus seems to be that a trued Rem can shoot as accurate as a custom but a custom action works smoother and easier in bolt operation. thats the big reason competitors use them- not disturbing the action in the bags ect. - an add on - The newer remingtons that have been CNC'd are often true enough as they are. just IMO. hope it helps

 

[jelenko]

the bottom line no BS consensus seems to be that a trued Rem can shoot as accurate as a custom but a custom action works smoother and easier in bolt operation. thats the big reason competitors use them- not disturbing the action in the bags ect. - an add on - The newer remingtons that have been CNC'd are often true enough as they are. just IMO. hope it helps

This is my understanding also.

I think a key consideration is what you will use the rifle for? Building a rifle to compete at a high level in Benchrest requires smaller groups than one used for, say, PRS.

 

[Spike A]

It will be used to shoot at my personal long range range and varmint hunting.. but I’ve always no matter what your buying thought to buy the best that can be afforded( if it’s worth it)

 

[Kracken McGraw]

It will be used to shoot at my personal long range range and varmint hunting.. but I’ve always no matter what your buying thought to buy the best that can be afforded( if it’s worth it)

Which brands of custom actions are you considering, this might get you more answers that your looking for.

 

[FeMan]

I have three customs and a handful of trued Remingtons. I agree with hoz53 and don't find one outshoots the other but the customs are smoother.

 

[joshb]

The custom is the way to go. Think about the pleasure of use and resale value.
I won’t buy a “trued” action for the extra money a guy wants for it. I’ll pay a little extra for a Stiller or such. If I want to build a really nice gun, I’ll buy a Borden or Bat.

 

[jepp2]

well there isntt alot of options to cut rifled remage barrel..

Doesn't take a lot, only takes 1. Check out SPR at bugholes.com

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Theres a few remington footprint copies that are good and a few that arent. Gotta figure out which one you want

 

[Rob01]

Performance wise between a trued 700 and a custom you won't see any. With a custom you will get some nicer features and definitely a better fit and finish. You will also have better resale value. There are cut rifled remages as I know Patriot Valley Arms sells them but sounds like you are leaning towards a custom. A Bighorn Origin for $825 and then you can get shouldered prefit barrels and screw them on yourself is a winning combo.

 

[jelenko]

I'm not sold that cut rifled is more accurate than button rifled.
See this list of top barrel makers and whether they use cut rifling or button rifling.
https://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/premium-barrels/

 

[urbanrifleman]

Bone stock Rem 700 in my Elisio chassis from Tubb bipod and squeeze bag. My Urbanrifleman prefit in 6bra 108 Bergers and Ar comp.

Bone stock stainless action from Budsguns. Not trued. Truing does nothing on the target unless you have a total basket case action. Despite the rumors to the contrary.

My prefits are $235, nut is $34. If you wear one out. Buy another one. Like Doritos we will make more...

If one thinks this is an isolated wallet group. Its It's not.

 

[Richard Coody]

It will be used to shoot at my personal long range range and varmint hunting.. but I’ve always no matter what your buying thought to buy the best that can be afforded( if it’s worth it)

In my opinion for your type of shooting i believe I would pass on the trueing and get a remage.barrel and nut from northland shooters supply and.see how it shoots. $300 for.a barrel and you can change them out as needed. Varmint hunting is hard on barrels. With the remage you can also change cartridges easily with just the cost of a barrel. If you aren't looking for that last tenth reduction in group size that will do you just fine.

If you decide to go custom then you will have a rifle to shoot while you wait for it to be built.

 

[Spike A]

Many ask the action I am looking at.. I would prefer no bashing only personal experience if applicable ... that being said I’m looking at a pierce... they are 70 miles from my house talked to them on the phone several times visited the shop... been very nice every time I have spoke with them ... took time to show me the shop when I visited them.. very nice people ...

I understand I don’t “need “ a custom action for what I am doing ... but I will say it’s something I’ve always wanted, and thought maybe why not..

 

[jelenko]

In my opinion for your type of shooting i believe I would pass on the trueing and get a remage.barrel and nut from northland shooters supply and.see how it shoots. $300 for.a barrel and you can change them out as needed. Varmint hunting is hard on barrels. With the remage you can also change cartridges easily with just the cost of a barrel. If you aren't looking for that last tenth reduction in group size that will do you just fine.

If you decide to go custom then you will have a rifle to shoot while you wait for it to be built.

This.

 

[Rob01]

In my opinion for your type of shooting i believe I would pass on the trueing and get a remage.barrel and nut from northland shooters supply and.see how it shoots. $300 for.a barrel and you can change them out as needed. Varmint hunting is hard on barrels. With the remage you can also change cartridges easily with just the cost of a barrel. If you aren't looking for that last tenth reduction in group size that will do you just fine.

If you decide to go custom then you will have a rifle to shoot while you wait for it to be built.

You can do the same with a custom and a shouldered prefit barrel and you don't have to worry about headspace gauges for each caliber and setting headspace. That right there is a big advantage for me. Screw it off and screw another back on. Simple.

With an action like a Bighorn Origin I mentioned you can also change the bolt faces and have one action that can have .308 and a .223 bolt face cartridges in one set up. Another huge advantage.

 

[jelenko]

Many ask the action I am looking at.. I would prefer no bashing only personal experience if applicable ... that being said I’m looking at a pierce... they are 70 miles from my house talked to them on the phone several times visited the shop... been very nice every time I have spoke with them ... took time to show me the shop when I visited them.. very nice people ...

I understand I don’t “need “ a custom action for what I am doing ... but I will say it’s something I’ve always wanted, and thought maybe why not..

I've used two Pierce tube gun actions - absolutely loved both. Light bolt lift, very smooth cycling. That said, the Pierce is the only custom action I've handled/used.
I can say, that after 5K cycles and a PTG custom bolt, a bone stock Remington was almost as light and smooth.